After a rough 4-3 loss to Maine East in the season opener, the boys’ soccer team had quite a bounce back at home Thursday night.

The Grens won in a 5-1 blowout of Crystal Lake South. The Grens showed a lot of chemistry, but there were definitely a couple of standouts. Junior defenseman Daniel Hadler scored a pair of goals at the 14th and 58th minutes. The remainder of Grenadier goals came from senior Jonathan Arzeta, who scored in the 4th, 54th and 61st minutes for a hat trick.

The Gators were busy on defense all evening as goalkeeper Gus Alvarez recorded 11 saves. They finally broke the shutout with a late goal by Austin Lamping.

It might be one of those seasons with a star each game, as Elk Grove’s only sophomore, midfielder Edgar Soto, had two goals himself in the loss at Maine East.

The Nation was in as good of shape as the players. EG fans armed with thunder sticks were so loud that at one point the head referee had to tell the rowdy fans to quiet down during a stoppage in play.

Arteza saluted the raucous crowd after his third goal, but in the closing minutes had to be helped off the field near the opposing goal. The crowd saluted Arteza right back with chants of “Johnny! Johnny!” as he was helped to the bench. The status of Arteza’s injury is unknown at this point.

It was also the first win for head coach Rob Shepard. He replaces longtime varsity coach Joe Bush this year after coaching last season with junior varsity and seven years with the freshmen squad prior to that.

The team’s next game will be against Jacobs, another Fox Valley Conference squad, on Sept. 7 and then they will open up MSL competition at Hersey Sept. 10. The Grenadiers return to Haskell Stadium Sept. 13 against Hoffman Estates.

By: Jack Kaup